November 27, 2011Nearly 90 Percent of Brooklyn Pantries And Kitchens Are Feeding More PeopleBy New York Coalition Against HungerBROOKLYN, NY -- A new analysis of recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data, conducted by the New York City Coalition Against Hunger and released Wednesday, found that nearly 500,000 city children, or one in four, live in families that cannot afford an adequate supply of food.The coalition`s calculations also showed that one in six New York City residents, 1.47 million New Yorkers, live in food insecurity, struggling against hunger.A separate survey of New York City soup kitchens and food pantries, also included in the coalition`s report, found that demand at city food pantries and soup kitchens grew by 12 percent this year -- on top of a 7 percent increase in 2010 and a 21 increase in 2009.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011by VIN News Staff Brooklyn, NY - A large delegation of City Council members volunteered on Monday their time and energy at Masbia soup kitchen on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn in order to witness firsthand the plight of New York’s unfortunate and the effect that the current state of the economy has on real people. The site on Coney Island Avenue opened in November 2009 as part of the UJA, Met Council and MASBIA response to the economic crises. It is one of three soup kitchens they opened during the recession.

November 16, 2011 State Sen. Daniel Squadron volunteered at a kosher soup kitchen only steps away from a hate-crime scene. Masbia of Williamsburg is located near the corner of Lee Avenue and Ross Street, where a 51-year-old Hasidic man was severely beaten just late last Friday night, Nov. 12, by three perpetrators in what appears to be a series of anti-Semitic incidents in Brooklyn. Seen here with Squadron, left, is Alexander Rapoport, head of the Masbia organization.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011BY SANDY ELLERVIN NEWS STAFFSECAUCUS, NJ - A Rockland County based kosher food distributor debuted a line of organic flours today at the Kosher Fest food show that is not only unbleached, organic and stone ground, but a vehicle to feed the needy as well.The center of every label on five pound bags of La Sova flour clearly states that for every pallet of flour sold, Neiman Kosher Food Distributors will donate one case of flour to Masbia soup kitchens. Each case of flour contains six five pound bags of flour.

With eager determination some stay afloatFall 2011By Emerald Pellot [Excerpt from article]“The impact of the recession on Masbia can be measured by a number of gauges. Some of our big donors who helped us financially before the recession, can no longer help us,” said Alexander Rapaport, founder of Masbia. “Other donors have been awakened by the recession and prefer to give their money to emergency programs rather than a slew of other philanthropic causes.” Masbia was founded in 2005 by Mordechai Mondelbaum and Mr. Rapaport. The only kosher “soup kitchen” in the city was created in Brooklyn with a vision of feeding the hungry in a well-lit dignified setting. Masbia relies heavily on volunteers and only 10% of its funding is government based—for a grassroots organization like this, the recession can have serious consequences.

NEW YORK (CBS 2) - September 28, 2011 Rosh Hashanah began at sundown - marking the start of the Jewish High Holy Days.The ten-day period of reflection is traditionally a time to review the mistakes of the past year and resolve to make improvements in the next.CBS 2`s Cindy Hsu headed to to Brooklyn on Wednesday, where the economy has some turning for help.The Masbia Soup Kitchen in Flatbush is buzzing as families who have hit hard times pick up free holiday groceries."I`m jobless, I`m on unemployment right now looking for a job and it`s very hard for me right now raising my children," Agnes Gruenbaum told Hsu.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011BY IZABELA RUTKOWSKI DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERSHandcrafted mezuzah cases designed by a pediatrician are doing more than protecting homes - they are helping to feed the hungry.Dr. Alma Krupka Klein put $700 in checks in an envelope and sent it to Masbia, a struggling soup kitchen in Borough Park, Brooklyn, several weeks ago."It was like, wow, it came [at] a very perfect moment," said Masbia director Alex Rapaport. "There was a burning utility bill on the table that day. That envelope saved us."

Monday August 1, 2011 9:25 PM The following nine days are a designated mourning period for traditional Jews. During this period it is customary not to eat meat, which was considered a luxury, and to eat fish instead. Making meals for the “nine days” is a challenge. Putting together menus and staying within a regular budget is not easy. So running a soup kitchen which feeds close to 500 meals a night makes the “nine days” a very expensive proposition. Finding an alternative to chicken, which in our society has become the cheapest protein, is challenging.